Apparatus for mounting a sleeve on a spindle

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for mounting a sleeve on a spindle includes a frame, and a finger arrangement movably mounted on the frame, the finger arrangement including a plurality of fingers arranged at a common first radius around an imaginary centerline of the finger arrangement, the fingers being movable radially outwardly from the first radius to a second radius upon application of an outwardly directed force. A sleeve having an internal opening in which the fingers are disposed is adapted to be mounted on a stationary spindle by movement of the finger arrangement on the frame toward the spindle. A method for mounting a sleeve on a spindle is also disclosed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for mountingsleeves on spindles and, more particularly, to mounting cylindricalsleeve brushes made of PVA or similar materials on spindles.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

Effective contact cleaning of high technology substrates depends onconsistent and uniform mounting of the cylindrical sleeve brushes usedfor such cleaning on their drive spindles. Typically, the mountingprocess is accomplished by hand, with or without the use of a brushspreading sleeve. In all cases, the accuracy and uniformity of the brushplacement on the spindle is operator dependent. Poor installation ofbrushes can increase substrate particle counts by more than 300%, withcorresponding reductions in final product yields.

Loading a wet PVA (or similar material) brush on a TEFLON spindle is adifficult chore. The PVA can tend to bunch and tear. The need to centerthe brush on the spindle compounds the problem even more. Simple sleevescan ease the process but still require a high degree of operatorexpertise and consistency. It is desirable to provide an apparatus andmethod that reduces operator dependency, and permits quick, consistentloading of brushes on spindles.

The present invention permits providing an apparatus and method forloading a sleeve such as a brush on a spindle that reduces operatordependency, and permits quick, consistent loading of sleeves onspindles.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus formounting a sleeve on a spindle includes a frame, and a fingerarrangement movably mounted on the frame, the finger arrangementincluding a plurality of fingers arranged at a common first radiusaround an imaginary centerline of the finger arrangement, the fingersbeing movable radially outwardly from the first radius to a secondradius upon application of an outwardly directed force. A sleeve havingan internal opening in which the fingers are disposed is adapted to bemounted on a stationary spindle by movement of the finger arrangement onthe frame toward the spindle.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method forloading a sleeve having an inner sleeve radius on a spindle having anouter spindle radius at least as large as the inner sleeve radius isprovided. According to the method, a sleeve having an internal openinghaving an inner sleeve radius is loaded on a finger arrangementincluding a plurality of fingers arranged at a common first radiusaround an imaginary centerline of the finger arrangement, the firstradius being no larger than the sleeve radius. The fingers are movedradially outwardly from the first radius to a second radius larger thanan outer spindle radius of a spindle. The spindle is installed in theinternal opening of the sleeve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of the present invention are well understoodby reading the following detailed description in conjunction with thedrawings in which like numerals indicate similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus according to an embodimentof the present invention prior to loading a spindle and a sleeve;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the apparatus according toFIG. 1 upon initially loading a spindle and a sleeve;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the apparatus according toFIG. 1 shown prior to installation of the spindle in the sleeve as thespindle is aligned with the pusher bar for installation of the spindlein the sleeve;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the apparatus according to FIG. 1 shownsubsequent to loading a spindle and a sleeve as in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the apparatus according toFIG. 1 shown after installation of the spindle in the sleeve andwithdrawal of fingers from between the spindle and the sleeve;

FIG. 6 is an end view of a portion of an apparatus according to anembodiment of the present invention after installation of the spindle inthe sleeve and prior to or during withdrawal of fingers from between thespindle and the sleeve;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of anapparatus for mounting a sleeve on a spindle according to an embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 7 on which asleeve and a spindle have been mounted, prior to mounting the sleeve onthe spindle;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 7 on which a spindle, butno sleeve, has been mounted;

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a finger frame arrangementaccording to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 11A and 11B are perspective and end views of a spindle holderportion according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An apparatus 21 for mounting a sleeve 23 (FIGS. 2-6) on a spindle 25(FIGS. 2-6) according to an embodiment of the present invention is shownin FIG. 1. The sleeve 23 is preferably a wet PVA (or similar material)brush of the type used to polish substrates for high technologyapplications that is mounted on a spindle 25 made of TEFLON or similartype material.

The apparatus 21 preferably includes a frame 27 and a finger arrangement29 movably mounted on the frame, such as by a carriage 31 of aconventional type. The carriage 31 is preferably movable along a track33 by any suitable drive device (not shown), such as by an electricmotor and belt or chain arrangement.

The finger arrangement 29 preferably includes a plurality of fingers 35arranged at a common first radius around an imaginary centerline of thefinger arrangement (the centerline of the fingers). In operating theapparatus 21, the sleeve 23 is mounted on the finger arrangement 29around the fingers 35 as seen in FIG. 2. The fingers 35 are movableradially outwardly from the first radius to a second radius uponapplication of an outwardly directed force on the fingers. When theoutwardly directed force is applied to move the fingers 35 radiallyoutwardly, the internal dimensions of the sleeve 23 mounted on thefingers are expanded to facilitate installation of the spindle 25,preferably by substantially even application of force by the fingers atthe different positions of the fingers.

The finger arrangement 29 preferably includes a finger frame 37 to whichthe fingers 35 are movably connected, the finger frame having an axialopening 39 therein about which the fingers are arranged at predeterminedangular relationships, preferably every 90°, although more or fewerfingers may be provided. Preferably, means for urging (not shown) thefingers 35 toward the first radius, such as springs or resilient memberssuch as flexible rubber or other resilient material pads, are providedin connection with the finger arrangement and are disposed in the fingerframe 37. If desired or necessary, of course, no urging means may beprovided and an operator can manually urge the fingers to lie on thefirst radius.

Preferably, the force for moving the fingers 35 to the second radius isprovided by forcing the spindle 25, which preferably has an outer radiusat least as large as the internal radius of the sleeve, through theaxial opening 39 and between the fingers to cause sufficient expansionof the internal dimensions of the sleeve 23 to permit installation ofthe spindle between the fingers and in the internal opening of thesleeve. The resulting shape of the sleeve 23 in which the fingers 35 andthe spindle 25 are disposed is substantially as shown in FIG. 6.

As seen in FIGS. 1-5, a clamping arrangement 41 is preferably fixed tothe frame 27 in front of the finger arrangement 29. The clampingarrangement 41 preferably includes a plurality of clamps 43 mounted on aclamp frame 45 (FIGS. 1, 3, and 5). The clamps 43 are preferably movablyarranged about an imaginary centerline, the imaginary centerline beingsubstantially coaxial with the centerline of the finger arrangement 29.Preferably, as seen, for example, in FIG. 6, each of the clamps 43 isangularly offset, relative to the centerline of the fingers and thecenterline of the clamps, from an angular position of any of thefingers.

Each of the clamps 43 is preferably movable from a radially outwardposition to a radially inward position. Each of the clamps 43 ispreferably pivotably mounted about a point 47 on an arm 49 to facilitateeven application of pressure on the sleeve by the clamps, i.e., theclamps are preferably adapted to level themselves to adapt to theexterior contour of the sleeve. The arms 49 are also preferablypivotably mounted to the clamp frame 45 at a pivot point 51. The clamps43 may be moved from the radially outward position to the radiallyinward position by any suitable arrangement, such as by hydraulic orpneumatic pistons controlled by a controller, by electric drives such assolenoids controlled by a controller, or by cam-type arrangements drivenby an electric drive controlled by a controller, or arranged to move theclamps upon movement of other movable components of the apparatus 21.Preferably, the arms 49 are linked together about the frame 45 by alinking arrangement 53 that causes all of the arms to move inwardly andoutwardly together.

After installation of the spindle 25 between the fingers 35 in thesleeve 23, the finger arrangement 29 is moved on the carriage 31forwardly toward the clamping arrangement 41 so that the sleeve isdisposed inside of the clamps 43, and the clamps 43 clamp the sleeve.The fingers 35 are preferably installed in the sleeve 23 manually,although, in addition to permitting removal of the fingers from thesleeve, the clamping arrangement 41 may be used to hold the sleeverelative to the fingers during installation of the fingers into thesleeve, if desired or necessary. Preferably, the finger arrangement 29is movable on the frame 21, i.e., on the carriage 31, from a firstposition (seen in, for example, FIGS. 1-2 and 4-5) in which there is aspace between a leading end of the fingers 35 and a leading end of theclamping arrangement 41 to a second position (seen in FIGS. 3 and 6) inwhich the leading end of the fingers is disposed inside of the clamps ofthe clamping arrangement.

As seen in FIG. 3, to force the spindle 25 between the fingers 35 andinto the sleeve 23, a pusher bar 55 (FIG. 3) is preferably fixed to theframe 27 behind the carriage 31. A centerline of the pusher bar 55 ispreferably substantially coaxial with the centerline of the fingerarrangement 29. The pusher bar 55 preferably forms part of a spindleloading arrangement, the spindle loading arrangement including a bed 57attached to a rear side of the finger arrangement 29 opposite theclamping arrangement, the bed being adapted to hold a spindle 25 inposition relative to the centerline of the finger arrangement. Thespindle loading arrangement preferably also includes a slide 59 disposedabove the pusher bar 55 on which a spindle 25 to which a sleeve 23 is tobe mounted is loaded and is adapted to slide to the bed 57. The bed 57is preferably disposed under the pusher bar 55 when the fingerarrangement 29 is moved to a most rearward position, as seen in FIGS. 1and 2. When the carriage 31 moves on the track 33 toward the clampingarrangement 41 and thereby moves the finger arrangement 29 and the bed57 attached thereto, the bed is drawn from under the pusher bar 55 andthe spindle 25 slides from the slide 59 onto the bed.

When the carriage 31 moves on the track 33 toward the pusher bar 55, thespindle 25 resting in the bed 57 contacts the forward end of the pusherbar and is driven through the axial opening 39 in the finger frame 37and between the fingers 35. The fingers 35 are forced outwardly by thespindle 25 as the carriage 31 moves the finger arrangement 29 toward thepusher bar 55, and the spindle 25 is received in the sleeve 23. Then, asseen in FIG. 5, the carriage 31 is moved on the track 33 toward theclamping arrangement 41 for removal of the fingers 35 from between thesleeve 23 and the spindle 25. The clamps 43 of the clamping arrangementclamp the sleeve 23 at points that are preferably angularly offset fromthe fingers 35 to facilitate withdrawing the fingers from the sleeve asseen in FIG. 6.

In operation of the apparatus 21 in connection with a method for loadingthe sleeve 23 on the spindle 25 according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, as seen in FIG. 2, the sleeve 23 having an internalopening having an inner sleeve radius is loaded on the fingerarrangement 29 including a plurality of fingers 35 arranged at a commonfirst radius around an imaginary centerline of the finger arrangement,the first radius being no larger than the sleeve radius. The fingers 35are moved radially outwardly from the first radius to a second radiuslarger than an outer spindle radius of a spindle 25, preferably underapplication of a force applied by forcing a leading end of the spindlebetween the fingers. Preferably, in this manner, the spindle 25 isinstalled in the internal opening of the sleeve 23.

Preferably, as seen in FIG. 3, the spindle 25 is installed by supportingthe spindle on a bed 57 fixed behind the finger arrangement 29 such thata centerline of the spindle is substantially coaxial with the centerlineof the fingers 35 and applying a force to a trailing end of the spindle.The force is preferably applied by moving the finger arrangement 29 andthe bed 57 relative to a pusher bar 55 disposed behind the fingerarrangement, the pusher bar having a centerline substantially coaxiallyarranged relative to the centerline of the spindle and the centerline ofthe fingers.

As seen with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the spindle 25 is preferablyloaded on the bed 57 by placing the spindle on a slide 59 disposedbehind the finger arrangement 29, moving the finger arrangement and thebed relative to the slide, and sliding the spindle down the slide to thebed. When the finger arrangement 29 and the bed 57 are moved relative tothe pusher bar 55 to install the spindle 25 in the sleeve 23, the bed isdisposed below the pusher bar. After installation of the spindle 25 inthe sleeve 23, the fingers 35 are withdrawn from the clamped sleeve 25,preferably by clamping the sleeve with clamps 43 arranged at angularlydifferent positions relative to the fingers such that pressure isapplied to portions of the sleeve angularly removed from the fingers, asseen in FIGS. 6 (prior to or during withdrawal) and 5 (afterwithdrawal).

An alternative embodiment of an apparatus 121 for mounting a sleeve 123(FIG. 8) on a spindle 125 (FIGS. 8 and 9) is seen in FIG. 7. Theapparatus 121 includes a frame 127 and a finger arrangement 129 attachedto the frame. As seen in FIGS. 7-10, the finger arrangement 129preferably includes a plurality of fingers 131 movable from a firstradius to a second radius about an imaginary centerline, and a driven,reciprocable rod 133 arranged to move between the fingers to move themfrom the first radius to the second radius. In operation, the fingerarrangement 129 permits expansion of a sleeve, such as a wet PVA brush,from a first inside diameter to a larger second inside diameter, tofacilitate mounting of the sleeve on a spindle.

The apparatus 121 further includes a spindle holder 135 movably mountedon the frame 127. The spindle holder 135 is movable from a firstposition at a first distance from the finger arrangement 129 to a secondposition at a second distance from the finger arrangement, the seconddistance being less than the first distance. The spindle holder 135includes a holder portion 137 (FIGS. 11A and 11B) adapted to hold thespindle 125 to be received in the sleeve 123 mounted on the fingers 131so that the spindle is substantially coaxial with the centerline of thefingers.

When the spindle holder 135 is in the first position, it is loaded withthe spindle 125 in the holder portion 137 and a leading end 139 of thespindle is disposed at an axial distance before the ends 141 of thefingers 131. When the spindle holder 135 is moved to the secondposition, the leading end 139 of the spindle 125 is disposed axiallyforward of the ends 141 of the fingers 131. By controlling a position ofthe sleeve 123 when it is mounted on the fingers 131, such as bypreventing the sleeve from moving past a particular axial position onthe fingers, the position of the leading end 139 of the spindle 125relative to the sleeve can be precisely controlled by controlling thelocation of the second position.

As seen in FIGS. 7-9, the spindle holder 135 is preferably mounted on acarriage 143 that slides on a track 145 on the frame 127, and thecarriage is preferably reciprocably movable along the track by aconventional drive arrangement (not shown) such as an electric motor,drive belts or chains, hydraulic or pneumatic arrangements, or the like.After the rod 133 is driven between the fingers 131 to expand the sleeve123 mounted on the fingers, the carriage 143 on which the spindle holder135 is mounted moves the spindle holder and the spindle 125 mountedthereon from the first position to the second position. This causes theleading end 139 of the spindle 125 to enter the opening of the sleeve123 between the fingers 131 while, at the same time, the rod 133 iswithdrawn from between the fingers, preferably at the same rate at whichthe spindle enters.

As seen in FIGS. 11A and 11B, the holder portion 137 preferably includesa ridge 147 for limiting axial movement of the spindle 125 in adirection away from the finger arrangement 129. An internal dimension ofthe holder portion 147 is preferably semicircular for holding a circularspindle 125 that preferably has an enlarge portion 149 that contacts theridge 147, which is preferably a smaller diameter semicircle than therest of the holder portion, but may be any suitable structure that cancooperate with the spindle for preventing axial movement of the spindle.By providing a structure such as the ridge 147, when the spindle 125 iscaused to enter the sleeve 123, contact between the spindle and thesleeve or other structures will not cause the spindle to be preventedfrom entering the sleeve.

As seen in FIGS. 7-9, a clamping arrangement 151 for clamping the sleeveat least during withdrawal of the fingers 131 from the sleeve afterinsertion of the spindle 125 is movably mounted, together with thespindle holder 135, on the frame 127 between the spindle holder and thefinger arrangement 129. The clamping arrangement 151 is movable from afirst position at a first distance from the finger arrangement to asecond position wherein the clamping arrangement surrounds at least aportion of the fingers.

The clamping arrangement 151 preferably includes a frame 153 and aplurality of clamps 155 movably mounted on the frame and movable from afirst radius about a clamp centerline substantially coaxial with thecenterline of the fingers 131 to a second radius closer to thecenterline of the clamps. The clamps are angularly offset about thecenterline of the clamps relative to an angular position of the fingersabout the centerline of the fingers. The angular offset facilitateswithdrawal of the fingers 131 after installation of the spindle 125 inthe sleeve 123. The clamps 155 may be driven by any suitable drive 157,such as a solenoid, a hydraulic or pneumatic drive, or a geararrangement, as desired or necessary.

As seen in FIG. 10 the finger arrangement 129 includes a finger frame159 to which the fingers 131 are movably connected. The fingers 131preferably each include a first portion 131′ lying on a surface of animaginary truncated cone from the finger frame 159 to a first pointforward of the frame, and a second portion 131″ substantially parallelwith the centerline of the fingers, and the rod 133 preferably includesa leading end 161 in a shape of a truncated cone. The rod 133 ispreferably also provided with grooves 162 in which the fingers 131 areslidable to facilitate maintaining alignment of the fingers.

After a sleeve 123 is mounted around the second portions of the fingers131, the rod 133 is preferably driven forward into the volume defined bythe first portions 131′ of the fingers 131 to expand the sleevesufficiently to permit the spindle 125 to be moved into the largerdiameter opening of the sleeve. The rod 133 is preferably driven by asuitable drive 163 such as an electric motor, a hydraulic, or apneumatic drive, that advances the rod between the fingers. Thetruncated cone-shaped leading end 161 contacts the first portions 131″of the fingers 131 that preferably define the same angle with thecenterline of the fingers as the leading end and, as the leading end isdriven further between the fingers, the fingers are forced apart. Ifdesired or necessary, the wall of the truncated cone-shaped leading end161 may form a different angle with the centerline of the fingers thanthe first portions 131′ of the fingers form with the centerline of thefingers. A cylindrical portion 165 of the rod 133 that is preferablyabout the same diameter as the spindle 125 on which the sleeve 123 is tobe mounted is eventually driven between the second portions 131″ of thefingers 131 to completely expand the fingers and the sleeve.

In a method of operation of a method according to the present invention,a sleeve 123 is mounted on a spindle 125 by first mounting the sleeve onthe plurality of fingers 131, preferably on the second portions 131″ ofthe fingers that extend parallel to the direction of the centerline ofthe fingers. The fingers 131 are moved radially from the first radiusabout the centerline of the fingers to the second radius further fromthe centerline of the fingers than the first radius by a radiallyoutwardly directed force on the fingers that is applied by driving therod 133 between the fingers. In this way, the sleeve 123 mounted on thesecond portions 131″ of the fingers 131 is expanded.

A spindle 125 is mounted on the spindle holder 135. Preferably, thespindle 125 has an enlarged diameter portion 149 that rests in asemicircular holder portion 137 of the spindle holder 135 and is limitedin its ability to move axially away from the finger arrangement 129 by aridge 147 or other structure that interferes with the large diameterportion of the spindle for limiting axial movement relative to thespindle holder. The spindle holder 135 is preferably mounted on thecarriage 143 that moves on the track 145 and the spindle holder is movedon the carriage so that the leading end 139 of the spindle 125 isreceived in the opening of the sleeve 123 that has been expanded to thesecond radius by the fingers 131 and the rod 133, the spindle beingreceived between the fingers. Because the sleeve 123 is somewhatflexible, when the fingers 131 move to the second radius, the sleeve isnot expected to form a perfect circle. The radially outwardly directedforce on the fingers 131 that is applied by the rod 133 is preferablyremoved as the spindle 125 is introduced between the fingers bywithdrawing the rod as the spindle is introduced, the spindle preferablybeing close to or adjacent to the rod as it is withdrawn and preferablyadvancing into the sleeve at substantially the same rate as the rod iswithdrawn.

After the spindle 125 is installed and the rod 133 is removed, thefingers 131 are withdrawn from the sleeve 123, preferably by moving thespindle holder 135 together with the spindle 125 on which the sleeve ismounted back to the first position of the spindle holder. Prior tomoving the spindle holder 135, the clamping arrangement 151 preferablyclamps the sleeve 123 with clamps 155 arranged at angularly offsetlocations relative to the fingers 131 to hold the sleeve relative to thespindle 125. The clamping arrangement 151 is preferably mounted on thesame carriage 143 as the spindle holder 135 so that the clamps maintainthe clamping pressure on the sleeve and the spindle as the spindleholder and the clamping arrangement move away from the fingerarrangement 129.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for mounting a sleeve on a spindle,comprising: a frame; and a finger arrangement mounted on the frame, thefinger arrangement including a plurality of fingers arranged at a commonfirst radius around an imaginary centerline of the finger arrangement,the fingers being configured to extend along an entire length of thesleeve and movable radially outwardly from the first radius to a secondradius upon application of an outwardly directed force to allow theinsertion of a spindle into the sleeve; a spindle loading arrangementmounted on the frame and configured to hold the spindle in axialalignment with the sleeve for insertion of the spindle into the sleeve;and a track and carriage on the frame for moving the finger arrangementand the spindle toward one another to insert the spindle into thesleeve.
 2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising aclamping arrangement fixed to the frame in front of the fingerarrangement.
 3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein theclamping arrangement includes a plurality of clamps movably arrangedabout an imaginary centerline, the imaginary centerline beingsubstantially coaxial with the centerline of the finger arrangement. 4.The apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein each clamp of theplurality of clamps is movable from a radially outward position to aradially inward position to hold the sleeve in place on the spindleduring removal of the fingers from the sleeve.
 5. The apparatus as setforth in claim 3, wherein each clamp of the plurality of clamps ispivotably mounted about a point on an arm.
 6. The apparatus as set forthin claim 3, wherein each clamp of the plurality of clamps is angularlyoffset, relative to the centerline of the fingers and the centerline ofthe clamps, from an angular position of any of the fingers.
 7. Theapparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the finger arrangement ismovable on the frame by the carriage from a first position in whichthere is a space between a leading end of the fingers and a leading endof the clamping arrangement to a second position in which a leading endof the fingers is disposed inside of the clamping arrangement.
 8. Theapparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the spindle loadingarrangement comprises a pusher bar fixed to the frame behind thecarriage, a centerline of the pusher bar being substantially coaxialwith the centerline of the finger arrangement.
 9. The apparatus as setforth in claim 8, wherein the spindle loading arrangement includes a bedattached to a rear side of the finger arrangement opposite the clampingarrangement, the bed being adapted to hold a spindle in positionrelative to the centerline of the finger arrangement.
 10. The apparatusas set forth in claim 9, wherein the spindle loading arrangement furtherincludes a slide disposed above the pusher bar on which a spindle towhich a sleeve is to be mounted is loaded and is adapted to slide to thebed.
 11. The apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein the bed isdisposed under the pusher bar when the finger arrangement is moved to amost rearward position.
 12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1,further comprising a clamp configured to hold the sleeve in place on thespindle during removal of the fingers from the sleeve.
 13. The apparatusas set forth in claim 1, wherein the spindle loading arrangement ismounted on the carriage and movable along the track to insert thespindle into the sleeve.
 14. The apparatus as set forth in claim 13,further comprising a clamp mounted on the carriage and movable along thetrack to hold the sleeve in place on the spindle during removal of thefingers from the sleeve.
 15. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1,wherein the finger arrangement is mounted on the carriage and movablealong the track to insert the spindle into the sleeve.
 16. The apparatusas set forth in claim 1, wherein the fingers include first free ends forreceiving the sleeve and second ends of the fingers are provided with afinger expansion mechanism.
 17. The apparatus as set forth in claim 16,wherein the spindle is inserted from the first free ends of the fingers.18. The apparatus as set forth in claim 16, wherein the spindle isinserted from the second ends of the fingers.
 19. An apparatus formounting a sleeve on a spindle, comprising: a frame; and a fingerarrangement mounted on the frame, the finger arrangement including aplurality of fingers arranged at a common first radius around animaginary centerline of the finger arrangement, the fingers beingmovable radially outwardly from the first radius to a second radius uponapplication of an outwardly directed force to allow the insertion of aspindle into the sleeve; a spindle loading arrangement mounted on theframe and configured to hold the spindle in axial alignment with thesleeve for insertion of the spindle into the sleeve; a track andcarriage on the frame for moving the finger arrangement and the spindletoward one another to insert the spindle into the sleeve; and a clampconfigured to hold the sleeve in place on the spindle during removal ofthe fingers from the sleeve.
 20. The apparatus as set forth in claim 19,wherein the spindle loading arrangement is mounted on the carriage andmovable along the track to insert the spindle into the sleeve.
 21. Theapparatus as set forth in claim 19, wherein the finger arrangement ismounted on the carriage and movable along the track to insert thespindle into the sleeve.